International Expeditions - Complete Cuba

We had been looking at and exploring traveling to Cuba for quite some time. When companies began to offer People to People trips we began to compare their itinerary and prices. On the recommendation from friends we chose to book the Completer Cuba Tour with International Expeditions

From the first things went well and we had great service from the staff at IE. Our flights were arranged on United and we had no problems flying between Denver and Miami. Transfers to and from the Marriott were very easy and well organized. The Marriott stays were pleasant and what one would expect from this company.

Our first evening in Miami we had a pre-trip meeting with Lazaras from MarAzul, coordinating our transfer the following morning to the airport and Cuba. She was very welcoming and gracious, and stayed with us for two hours giving us vital information and answering all of our questions. We were served beer, wine and soft drinks and so much to eat with empanadas, Cuban sandwiches and pastries that we did not need dinner that night.

The next morning MarAzul representatives were at the Marriott to help us check out and get ready for Cuba. They took us to the airport and checked our luggage and went through TSA security without any problems.

Our Sun Country Airlines flight was very pleasant and the flight to Cienfuegos, Cuba was less than an hour. We deplaned on the tarmac and entered the airport facility. We were welcomed with open arms by the airport staff of the island. We went through passport control and then immigration easily. Because we are on a legal and authorized People to People expedition, our passports were stamped just as if we were going to any other country.

As soon as we cleared customs Bolivar Sanchez, our International Expedition Tour Leader and lovely Claudia, our Cuban guide met us as we stepped out of immigration. Along with our bus driver, Eliecer, our group of eight was complete. We took the short drive to the Hotel La Unión where we checked in and were offered a welcome drink of fruit juice, which was very refreshing. Our room at the Hotel La Union was very spacious and clean. The hotel was built in 1869.

We took the opportunity to take our first unaccompanied walk around the city and found everyone to be exceptionally friendly. With our Spanish language facility we quickly made friends with everyone we met. In the following ten days we found that the Cuban people were among the top ten friendliest people we have met in our over 100 countries we have visited. They want to talk to the people visiting their country and THEY SMILE all the time.

With the late afternoon tour of Cienfuegos with Boli and Claudia our small group felt very comfortable and the conversational give and take was very relaxed. We met people on the street; musicians, workers, mothers with their children, men at work, and then a special performance by the Cantores de Cienfuegos - exceptional singers. Our buffet dinner was at the palatial home of an ex-sugar baron.

I could go into great detail about each day of our trip but I will try to be brief by highlighting each day.

Day 3 - Saturday - We drove to the UNESCO Valle De Los Ingenios and visited Manaca Iznaga sugar cane plantation. Then we traveled to the port city of Trinidad where we did a city walk and met the people on this colonial city as they celebrated their 500-year since the founding. There was a short visit Casa Del Alfarero Santander to see the pottery. Being chauffeured in 1950s vehicles, we went for a fabulous dinner and traditional music at La Rosa Paladar. Our two-day stay was at the Resort Hotel Club Amigo Ancón.

Day 4 - Sunday - We took our bus to the Sierra de Escambray where we visited Topes de Collantes National Park aboard a converted Russian troop transport truck and did a nature walk and visited a local coffee house. In the late afternoon we saw the Cuban Modern Art Museum adjacent to the park entrance and then returned to Trinidad and the hotel for a buffet dinner.

Day 5 - Monday - In the early morning we left Trinidad for the Zapata Wetlands, an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with a local resident who was our bird guide where we spotted almost 20 species of birds including the Bee Hummingbird. We went on to Playa Giron where we had a visit to the Museo Giron or Bay of Pigs Museum - the Cuban historical perspective. At the Hotel Playa Larga right on the Caribbean beach we met a local environmentalist and Director of the National Park who briefed us on the local environment and promised us a great bird watching experience in the morning.

Day 6 - Tuesday - Our 6 AM early morning birding was postponed about an hour as there was a heavy fog but once it dissipated we had a treasure trove of indigenous birds we identified. We departed Playa Larga and the Bay of Pigs to visit the Korimacao Art Project where we saw dancers, musicians, and beautiful art projects. A short drive took us to Treasure Lake and the Taino Indian Village for a boat tour and lunch. We then had a long drive past Havana to our lodging in the tropical forest of Soroa in the far western portion of the island.

Day 7 - Wednesday - From our Lodge we did a guided walking tour of Soroa Orchid Garden with its 600 varieties of orchids. Our bus was awaiting us as we left to drive us through Sierra de los Organos Mountains and then visit Montesino Tobacco farm. We saw the whole production, were invited to try sugar cane juice, then coffee and lastly to try a cigar. When we arrived at the Cueva del Indio it was raining but a short walk had us in the cave to wander and navigate. For lunch we drove to the Casa de Confianza organic farm for another great experience as we overlooked the valley and the karstic limestone mountains that surrounded us. We finished our exploration by doing some individual walking through Viñales before going for dinner at the hotel. A long drive day but truly spectacular in all we saw and experienced.

Day 8 - Thursday - On our way to Havana we spent the morning at the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Las Terrazas. We stopped for coffee at Cafe de Maria, saw the Las Terrazas waterfall, and had lunch at Cafetal Buena Vista. Driving into Havana we visited the Hemmingway home and museum. Into Havana we stopped at the Plaza of the Revolution and then on to the 5 Star Melia Cohiba Hotel.

Day 9 - Friday - Today was a full day in Havana, visiting the Our Lady of Belen Convent a community center for children and senior citizens. We then walked and wandered through Habana Vieja exploring the many Plazas and Harbor Edge Art Market. Our Farewell Dinner was at the Cafe del Oriente in Old Havana; another fabulous gastronomical experience.

Day 10 - Saturday - Our departure day was adjusted, as we were to have the last flight out of Havana. Boli rented two mid 1950s Chevrolets to give us a tour of the city and the Havana Forts. We then visited the Museum of the Revolution before we had to go to José Martí Airport and bid adieu to Cuba and fly to Miami and the Marriott. We thanked our new driver Boris for keeping the bus spotless throughout the trip.